According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com,
citing baseball sources, the Nationals are set to fire manager Manny
Acta. The ax could come as soon as an off-day on Monday, with the team
preparing to start a series against the Yankees. According to the
report, Acta would be replaced by bench coach Jim Riggleman.

The 40-year-old Acta has compiled a 147-231 record in two and a half
seasons as manager and has led the club to a league-worst 15-43 mark
this season. It’s a real shame because Acta never had much talent to
work with and guided a far-worse team to a 73-89 record in 2007. But
after the firing of pitching coach Randy St. Claire earlier this month,
and the selection of Stephen Strasburg this week, the organization
seems desperate to carve out a new image. Acta is but a fall guy in a
pretty misguided narrative.

The thing I don’t understand is that if this story already leaked,
why not just show the man some respect and let him go today instead of
waiting until Monday? It’s akin to firing Willie Randolph after letting
him fly out and manage the first game of a West Coast trip. It’s not
like Riggleman doesn’t know the players. He’s the bench coach. Let him
go already.